Post by Brett on Sept 1, 2011 16:24:19 GMT -1
The Imperial City of the Underworld was a buzz of activity and excitement, every citizen living there seemed to be doing something to prepare for the emperor's wedding. Chefs of all different schools of cookery prepared food for the party, inns and taverns throughout the city sent crates of their best spirits and wine to the palace for the festivities, entertainers lined the streets and in a wholly un-devil fashion everyone was smiling and stopping to speak to strangers about the event.
Isaan was not smiling, in fact he was probably the most nervous person in the Underworld with the exception of his bride who he had been forbidden to see until the wedding by his mother, aunt and several other female relations he had completely forgotten he had. Forced to stay in separate wings of the palace from one another, he and Kerali hadn't had any opportunity to talk or reassure one another to get over their nerves, which meant Isaan had to put up with Rainak offering him narcotics of some sort to take the edge off.
"I don't want any of the 'good stuff'!" he yelled, after the seventh time he had offered.
After Rainak left in a huff Isaan took the time to sort out his attire for the wedding, a ceremonial uniform worn by high ranking officers in the military and the imperial family for formal events such as these. The uniform was black, with red epaulettes on both shoulders and an equally red sash made of fine cloth going from his right shoulder to his left hip and ending with his sheathed katana held on his person by it. Four red tassels also came from the right shoulder, spreading around to attach at the forth button down and to complete the look a half dozen medals were pinned to the left side of his chest from his time with Dragos Midnight.
"I should wear this more often," he said, turning a bit to admire himself. "I look hot."
A knock at the door indicated it was time, he froze for a moment and took several deep breaths, a redundant act for an immortal but filling his lungs calmed him down. He opened the door and stepped out, nodding at Rainak who was still brushing snow off his person and just gave him a scowl. With a smirk the pair of them both made their way up to the main square in front of the palace.
The square had been made to look perfect, a red carpet stretched from the top of the steps that led into the square from the front all the way to the altar placed on the other end. Above them the flag of the Underworld flew from a flagpole, along with the crest of the imperial family hanging down like banners from a wire that had been drawn across from one side of the square to the other to hang over people's heads. Lining the red carpet all the way up were the forty soldiers of the first cohort of the Imperial Black Guard, the most decorated soldiers from the personal legions of the emperor each in dress uniform.
Isaan ascended the steps into the front of the square, looking around at the people gathered there, only family and close friends were allowed to be in the square for the actual wedding but when he turned he saw the entire city were gathered regardless so that she could see their emperor and new queen after the wedding.
"His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Isaan A'vron!" the officer of the first cohort cried.
The soldiers flanking the red carpet fell to one knee with their heads bowed as he passed each one in turn, the guests had all rose from their chairs at his arrival as a sign of respect until he reached the altar at the end at which point the guardsmen all stood and the guests returned to their seats. Isaan smiled to see his sons in their ceremonial uniforms too, Seth with two medals and Cyarno with one from different battles of an older and less stable time in the universe.
He saw Relara and Thia as well dressed finely, and he gave them a small wave of his hand before he stepped up to the altar properly, he peered at Rainak who was about to roll a joint right there in front of everyone but stopped when he saw the death glare Isaan gave him.
Hearing the sound of trumpets from the back of the square Isaan looked to see Kerali, dressed in white and with her hair up looking more beautiful than he had ever seen her, she took his father's arm who had agreed to give her away as Kerali's own parents were unknown or simply continued not to want anything to do with her. But that didn't matter, the shy smile on Kerali's face at all the attention was enough, it was a happy day and that was all that would matter to either of them in the end.
As she began down the aisle guided by Alaister, the crowd stood and the first cohort drew their rapiers and held them high in an arch above her, all completely stoic and disciplined as they always were though some of them couldn't help but falter wih a smile as she passed - all of them had fought for Isaan for so long they were glad to see he was finally taking a queen. When she reached the altar, Alaister carefully took his arm back and took Kerali's hand to place it in Isaan's, beaming at them both before he took his seat beside his wife in the front row.
"You look beautiful," he whispered.
"You look handsome," she replied, her shyness momentarily gone when she looked at him.
Melaus stood up in front of them and smiled at the pair, he had volunteered to wed them being a fully trained priest when he was still Melaer. Both of them turned to face him properly, keeping their hands linked despite it being traditional not to, but Isaan wasn't one for tradition most of the time.
"We are gathered here for the union of Emperor Isaan A'vron and our soon-to-be Queen, Kerali Vigil." he began, smiling at them both.
Kerali blushed at being referred to by the surname Vigil, she of course was no blood relation to any of their family, but Alaister had kindly allowed her to use the surname for the wedding because it was immortal law that a surname was required.
"The union of marriage is a sacred bond started by the very first of our kind, it is a tradition that has continued for millennia to bind the hearts and souls of two who never wish to be with another." he continued, "The two before us have expressed their wish to be joined eternally, so to that end are there any who object to their union?"
Of course the entire crowd turned silent, not that anyone would have an objection to it although it probably didn't help that Rainak was giving the entire crowd a threatening glare at that moment which would surely keep their mouths shut if there had been one.
"Marvellous," Melaus said, smiling more widely. "the joining of two souls in wedlock is eternal in the eyes of the divine, to this end you will now exchange the bands to solidify your joining and your oath of faithfulness to one another for all time."
It was no joke when they called it an oath, the immortal bands could be considered a cruel device, but at the same time it was an assurance marriage truly was eternal and nobody went into it lightly. Should either be unfaithful the band would immediately kill both husband and wife without discrimination and once they were on they could not be removed by any force in the universe.
Isaan merely smiled at this though, and carefully he slipped a fine wooden band onto Kerali's wrist made with a Fey patterning. Kerali did much the same, except that Isaan's band had a marble and obsidian woven pattern to indicate his hybrid heritage. The moment both bands were on their wrists they immediately sealed on, even though the words had not yet been spoken they were married from this moment.
"And so the joining is done and they are joined destined to walk together in immortality," Melaus finished, "I pronounce you husband and wife, you may seal your union with a kiss."
No time was wasted as Isaan's arms wrapped around Kerali and drew her close, kissing her lovingly and lingering like that as the crowd stood and applauded together with a few cheers and a bit of wooping from certain Dragos Midnight guests. Breaking the kiss he gently took her hand and turned to walk back down the aisle, the cohort creating their arch of rapiers for the pair as they walked together to the end of the square where the steps looked down on the rest of the city, the cheer would have been deafening to mortal ears.
"They're cheering for you," Isaan said gently, "you're their queen now."
"It's going to take a lot of getting used to," she replied.
Raising her free hand she waved at the crowd and Isaan just smiled, putting his arm around her properly and continuing to watch the crowd, everything had been just as his future self had told him it would be and neither husband nor wife could have been happier than in that moment.
Isaan was not smiling, in fact he was probably the most nervous person in the Underworld with the exception of his bride who he had been forbidden to see until the wedding by his mother, aunt and several other female relations he had completely forgotten he had. Forced to stay in separate wings of the palace from one another, he and Kerali hadn't had any opportunity to talk or reassure one another to get over their nerves, which meant Isaan had to put up with Rainak offering him narcotics of some sort to take the edge off.
"I don't want any of the 'good stuff'!" he yelled, after the seventh time he had offered.
After Rainak left in a huff Isaan took the time to sort out his attire for the wedding, a ceremonial uniform worn by high ranking officers in the military and the imperial family for formal events such as these. The uniform was black, with red epaulettes on both shoulders and an equally red sash made of fine cloth going from his right shoulder to his left hip and ending with his sheathed katana held on his person by it. Four red tassels also came from the right shoulder, spreading around to attach at the forth button down and to complete the look a half dozen medals were pinned to the left side of his chest from his time with Dragos Midnight.
"I should wear this more often," he said, turning a bit to admire himself. "I look hot."
A knock at the door indicated it was time, he froze for a moment and took several deep breaths, a redundant act for an immortal but filling his lungs calmed him down. He opened the door and stepped out, nodding at Rainak who was still brushing snow off his person and just gave him a scowl. With a smirk the pair of them both made their way up to the main square in front of the palace.
The square had been made to look perfect, a red carpet stretched from the top of the steps that led into the square from the front all the way to the altar placed on the other end. Above them the flag of the Underworld flew from a flagpole, along with the crest of the imperial family hanging down like banners from a wire that had been drawn across from one side of the square to the other to hang over people's heads. Lining the red carpet all the way up were the forty soldiers of the first cohort of the Imperial Black Guard, the most decorated soldiers from the personal legions of the emperor each in dress uniform.
Isaan ascended the steps into the front of the square, looking around at the people gathered there, only family and close friends were allowed to be in the square for the actual wedding but when he turned he saw the entire city were gathered regardless so that she could see their emperor and new queen after the wedding.
"His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Isaan A'vron!" the officer of the first cohort cried.
The soldiers flanking the red carpet fell to one knee with their heads bowed as he passed each one in turn, the guests had all rose from their chairs at his arrival as a sign of respect until he reached the altar at the end at which point the guardsmen all stood and the guests returned to their seats. Isaan smiled to see his sons in their ceremonial uniforms too, Seth with two medals and Cyarno with one from different battles of an older and less stable time in the universe.
He saw Relara and Thia as well dressed finely, and he gave them a small wave of his hand before he stepped up to the altar properly, he peered at Rainak who was about to roll a joint right there in front of everyone but stopped when he saw the death glare Isaan gave him.
Hearing the sound of trumpets from the back of the square Isaan looked to see Kerali, dressed in white and with her hair up looking more beautiful than he had ever seen her, she took his father's arm who had agreed to give her away as Kerali's own parents were unknown or simply continued not to want anything to do with her. But that didn't matter, the shy smile on Kerali's face at all the attention was enough, it was a happy day and that was all that would matter to either of them in the end.
As she began down the aisle guided by Alaister, the crowd stood and the first cohort drew their rapiers and held them high in an arch above her, all completely stoic and disciplined as they always were though some of them couldn't help but falter wih a smile as she passed - all of them had fought for Isaan for so long they were glad to see he was finally taking a queen. When she reached the altar, Alaister carefully took his arm back and took Kerali's hand to place it in Isaan's, beaming at them both before he took his seat beside his wife in the front row.
"You look beautiful," he whispered.
"You look handsome," she replied, her shyness momentarily gone when she looked at him.
Melaus stood up in front of them and smiled at the pair, he had volunteered to wed them being a fully trained priest when he was still Melaer. Both of them turned to face him properly, keeping their hands linked despite it being traditional not to, but Isaan wasn't one for tradition most of the time.
"We are gathered here for the union of Emperor Isaan A'vron and our soon-to-be Queen, Kerali Vigil." he began, smiling at them both.
Kerali blushed at being referred to by the surname Vigil, she of course was no blood relation to any of their family, but Alaister had kindly allowed her to use the surname for the wedding because it was immortal law that a surname was required.
"The union of marriage is a sacred bond started by the very first of our kind, it is a tradition that has continued for millennia to bind the hearts and souls of two who never wish to be with another." he continued, "The two before us have expressed their wish to be joined eternally, so to that end are there any who object to their union?"
Of course the entire crowd turned silent, not that anyone would have an objection to it although it probably didn't help that Rainak was giving the entire crowd a threatening glare at that moment which would surely keep their mouths shut if there had been one.
"Marvellous," Melaus said, smiling more widely. "the joining of two souls in wedlock is eternal in the eyes of the divine, to this end you will now exchange the bands to solidify your joining and your oath of faithfulness to one another for all time."
It was no joke when they called it an oath, the immortal bands could be considered a cruel device, but at the same time it was an assurance marriage truly was eternal and nobody went into it lightly. Should either be unfaithful the band would immediately kill both husband and wife without discrimination and once they were on they could not be removed by any force in the universe.
Isaan merely smiled at this though, and carefully he slipped a fine wooden band onto Kerali's wrist made with a Fey patterning. Kerali did much the same, except that Isaan's band had a marble and obsidian woven pattern to indicate his hybrid heritage. The moment both bands were on their wrists they immediately sealed on, even though the words had not yet been spoken they were married from this moment.
"And so the joining is done and they are joined destined to walk together in immortality," Melaus finished, "I pronounce you husband and wife, you may seal your union with a kiss."
No time was wasted as Isaan's arms wrapped around Kerali and drew her close, kissing her lovingly and lingering like that as the crowd stood and applauded together with a few cheers and a bit of wooping from certain Dragos Midnight guests. Breaking the kiss he gently took her hand and turned to walk back down the aisle, the cohort creating their arch of rapiers for the pair as they walked together to the end of the square where the steps looked down on the rest of the city, the cheer would have been deafening to mortal ears.
"They're cheering for you," Isaan said gently, "you're their queen now."
"It's going to take a lot of getting used to," she replied.
Raising her free hand she waved at the crowd and Isaan just smiled, putting his arm around her properly and continuing to watch the crowd, everything had been just as his future self had told him it would be and neither husband nor wife could have been happier than in that moment.